Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans: 2005 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2005 NFL season on 2005-10-30, the Houston Texans took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 19–16 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Dilfer (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -4.11 total EPA.

On the individual side, A. Bryant (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +7.60 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.1% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (1:03) (Shotgun) 8-T.Dilfer sacked at HOU 46 for -8 yards (96-G.Walker).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Bryant · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +7.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.90 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Gaffney · Houston Texans · Receiving · +5.30 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.06 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Mathis · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.75 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.75 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Shea · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +3.25 total EPA · 1 snaps · +3.25 EPA/play
5. 5 D. Davis · Houston Texans · Receiving · +3.22 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.61 EPA/play
6. 6 S. Heiden · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +2.25 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Edwards · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +1.69 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.84 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Armstrong · Houston Texans · Receiving · +1.46 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.46 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Houston Texans — J. Mathis (D. Carr pass) (Q1 56:03)
• Cleveland Browns — A. Shea (T. Dilfer pass) (Q1 50:12)

Field goals

• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q1 45:09)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q2 34:18)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q2 30:14)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q3 18:54)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 14:12)
• Cleveland Browns — P. Dawson (Q4 5:10)
• Houston Texans — K. Brown (Q4 2:50)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 10–7. Houston Texans found the end zone from the CLE 34 (Q1 56:03) — (11:03) 8-D.Carr pass to 13-J.Mathis for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Houston Texans added 1 points from the CLE 2 (Q1 55:55) — 3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the HOU 8 (Q1 50:12) — (5:12) 8-T.Dilfer pass to 83-A.Shea for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the HOU 2 (Q1 50:05) — 4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 10 (Q1 45:09) — (:09) 4-P.Dawson 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 3–3. Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 11 (Q2 34:18) — (4:18) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the CLE 20 (Q2 30:14) — (:14) 3-K.Brown 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The third quarter: Houston Texans won the period 3–0. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the CLE 19 (Q3 18:54) — (3:54) 3-K.Brown 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

The fourth quarter: Houston Texans won the period 6–3. Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the CLE 17 (Q4 14:12) — (14:12) 3-K.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the HOU 20 (Q4 5:10) — (5:10) 4-P.Dawson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.; Houston Texans connected on a field goal from the CLE 22 (Q4 2:50) — (2:50) 3-K.Brown 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 1:03) — (1:03) (Shotgun) 8-T.Dilfer sacked at HOU 46 for -8 yards (96-G.Walker). [WPA -18.1% · EPA -1.68]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 6:50) — (6:50) 8-T.Dilfer pass to 81-A.Bryant to HOU 22 for 20 yards (30-J.Simmons). [WPA +17.1% · EPA +2.46]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) 8-T.Dilfer sacked at HOU 25 for -8 yards (96-G.Walker). FUMBLES (96-G.Walker), RECOVERED by HOU-99-R.Smith at HOU 25. 99-R.Smith to HOU 28 for 3 yards (70-L.Shelton). [WPA -15.2% · EPA -5.82]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 0:50) — (:50) 8-T.Dilfer pass incomplete to 81-A.Bryant (31-P.Buchanon). [WPA -14.7% · EPA -0.32]
• Houston Texans (Q4 9:40) — (9:40) 3-K.Brown 38 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley. [WPA -14.4% · EPA -3.46]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q3 26:17) — (11:17) 8-T.Dilfer sacked at HOU 25 for -8 yards (96-G.Walker). FUMBLES (96-G.Walker), RECOVERED by HOU-99-R.Smith at HOU 25. 99-R.Smith to HOU 28 for 3 yards (70-L.Shelton). [WPA -15.2% · EPA -5.82]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 17:34) — (2:34) 34-R.Droughns up the middle to CLE 35 for 2 yards (30-J.Simmons). FUMBLES (30-J.Simmons), RECOVERED by HOU-98-A.Peek at CLE 32. 98-A.Peek to CLE 32 for no gain (70-L.Shelton). [WPA -14.1% · EPA -5.13]
• Houston Texans (Q1 56:03) — (11:03) 8-D.Carr pass to 13-J.Mathis for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +6.5% · EPA +3.75]
• Houston Texans (Q3 24:54) — (9:54) 8-D.Carr pass to 86-J.Gaffney to HOU 48 for 29 yards (27-B.Russell). (2 yards after catch.) [WPA +11.3% · EPA +3.61]

Quarterback report card

T.Dilfer led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Dilfer (Cleveland Browns) · 28 dropbacks · 42.9% completion · -0.15 EPA/play · -4.11 total EPA
• D.Carr (Houston Texans) · 24 dropbacks · 41.7% completion · -0.05 EPA/play · -1.29 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Cleveland Browns -0.12, Houston Texans -0.08) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Cleveland Browns: 12 drives, -9.06 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Houston Texans: 12 drives, -6.31 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Houston Texans leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• A. Bryant (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Houston Texans TD (+6) — Q1 56:03 · CLE 34 · Score 0-6
   (11:03) 8-D.Carr pass to 13-J.Mathis for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Houston Texans XP (+1) — Q1 55:55 · CLE 2 · Score 0-7
   3-K.Brown extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
3. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 50:12 · HOU 8 · Score 6-7
   (5:12) 8-T.Dilfer pass to 83-A.Shea for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 50:05 · HOU 2 · Score 7-7
   4-P.Dawson extra point is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.
5. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q1 45:09 · HOU 10 · Score 10-7
   (:09) 4-P.Dawson 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.
6. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 34:18 · HOU 11 · Score 13-7
   (4:18) 4-P.Dawson 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.
7. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q2 30:14 · CLE 20 · Score 13-10
   (:14) 3-K.Brown 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
8. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q3 18:54 · CLE 19 · Score 13-13
   (3:54) 3-K.Brown 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
9. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 14:12 · CLE 17 · Score 13-16
   (14:12) 3-K.Brown 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.
10. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 5:10 · HOU 20 · Score 16-16
    (5:10) 4-P.Dawson 37 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-64-R.Pontbriand, Holder-10-K.Richardson.
11. Houston Texans FG (+3) — Q4 2:50 · CLE 22 · Score 16-19
    (2:50) 3-K.Brown 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Pittman, Holder-7-C.Stanley.